Abstract

This dissertation is focused on understanding and controlling of surface properties of graphene and graphite. Four specific topics are presented: 1) study the intrinsic wettability of graphene; 2) minimize the airborne hydrocarbon contamination on graphitic surface during storage; 3) investigate the anti-corrosion performance of graphene during a long-term ambient oxidation process at room temperature; 4) study the catalytic effect of copper substrate during the atmospheric oxidation of graphene at high temperature. All the results have important implications for the characterization, processing, and storage of graphene (graphite) samples and related devices.

Specifically, chapter 2 reports the intrinsic wettability of graphene and the effect of airborne hydrocarbon contamination during its storage. This work overturned the long-held view that graphitic surfaces (including graphene and graphite) are hydrophobic. In chapter 3, efforts have been made to minimize the airborne hydrocarbon adsorption during the storage of graphitic surfaces, this work aimed at maintaining the intrinsic property of graphene and graphite surfaces over a long period of air exposure. Chapter 4 and 5 aimed to elucidate the mutual interactions between graphene and copper substrate during ambient air exposure as well as atmospheric oxidation at high temperature. This work is closely related to the potential application of graphene as an anti-corrosion film for metallic substrates.